ABO blood type and thromboembolic complications after intracerebral hemorrhage: An exploratory analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Non-O blood types are known to be associated with thromboembolic complications (TECs) in population-based studies. TECs are known drivers of morbidity and mortality in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients, yet the relationships of blood type on TECs in this patient population are unknown. We sought to explore the relationships between ABO blood type and TECs in ICH patients. METHODS: Consecutive adult ICH patients enrolled into a prospective observational cohort study with available ABO blood type data were analyzed. Patients with cancer history, prior thromboembolism, and baseline laboratory evidence of coagulopathy were excluded. The primary exposure variable was blood type (non-O versus O). The primary outcome was composite TEC, defined as pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis, ischemic stroke or myocardial infarction, during the hospital stay. Relationships between blood type, TECs and clinical outcomes were separately assessed using logistic regression models after adjusting for sex, ethnicity and ICH score. RESULTS: Of 301 ICH patients included for analysis, 44% were non-O blood type. Non-O blood type was associated with higher admission GCS and lower ICH score on baseline comparisons. We identified TECs in 11.6% of our overall patient cohort. . Although TECs were identified in 9.9% of non-O blood type patients compared to 13.0% in O blood type patients, we did not identify a significant relationship of non-O blood type with TECs (adjusted OR=0.776, 95%CI: 0.348-1.733, p=0.537). The prevalence of specific TECs were also comparable in unadjusted and adjusted analyses between the two cohorts. In additional analyses, we identified that TECs were associated with poor 90-day mRS (adjusted OR=3.452, 95% CI: 1.001-11.903, p=0.050). We did not identify relationships between ABO blood type and poor 90-day mRS (adjusted OR=0.994, 95% CI:0.465-2.128, p=0.988). CONCLUSIONS: We identified that TECs were associated with worse ICH outcomes. However, we did not identify relationships in ABO blood type and TECs. Further work is required to assess best diagnostic and prophylactic and treatment strategies for TECs to improve ICH outcomes.

Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension.

This JAMA Insights discusses the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Risk of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension after splenectomy.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the clinical study was to evaluate the risk of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) after splenectomy and to analyze some biochemical and coagulation parameters. BACKGROUND: CTEPH caused by incomplete resolution of thromboemboli and irreversible remodeling of the pulmonary arteries is a progressive, and without treatment a fatal disease. Although the definite etiopathophysiology is not quite perfectly researched, numerous clinical conditions associated with CTEPH as history of pulmonary embolism, infected ventriculoatrial shunts or permanent intravascular devices, high-dose thyroid hormone replacement, malignancy and chronic inflammatory diseases, including osteomyelitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, are well accepted. These factors also include splenectomy. METHODS: We performed a prospective follow-up of patients after splenectomy in the period of 5 years (2017-2022). The study population consisted of 62 adult post-splenectomy patients, who were divided into 3 groups based on the cause of the splenectomy - trauma, haematologic diseases, and others. The study population was analyzed in terms of gender, age, cause of splenectomy, blood group, clinical risk factors and thrombophilic conditions. Some basic haemocoagulation parameters and selected coagulation and biochemical parameters were analyzed. All patients underwent screening echocardiography, symptomatic patients repeatedly. In the presence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) unexplained by other diseases, patients underwent ventilation/perfusion lung scan performed to confirm/exclude perfusion defects typical for CTEPH. If PH and perfusion defects persisted despite effective 3-month anticoagulation therapy, patients underwent right heart catheterization to confirm/exclude CTEPH. RESULTS: The study confirmed a higher incidence of CTEPH after splenectomy compared to published data, the 5-year cumulative incidence was 3.2 %. Other detected clinical risk factors did not affect the incidence of thromboembolism/CTEPH after splenectomy. In our study, the strongest factor in terms of the incidence of thromboembolism/CTEPH after splenectomy was the presence of a thrombophilia detected before the screening echocardiography. Tested haemocoagulation and biochemical parameters in small patient subgroup had no impact on the incidence of thromboembolism/CTEPH - however, the limiting factor was a small patient subgroup. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that the incidence of thromboembolism after splenectomy was consistent with the present data, but the incidence of CTEPH after splenectomy was significantly higher. This suggests that post-splenectomy condition may be an independent risk factor for CTEPH and may imply different management of these patients in the future (Tab. 5, Ref. 18).

Systematic pulmonary embolism follow-up increases diagnostic rates of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and identifies less severe disease: results from the ASPIRE Registry.

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic rates and risk factors for the subsequent development of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) following pulmonary embolism (PE) are not well defined. METHODS: Over a 10-year period (2010-2020), consecutive patients attending a PE follow-up clinic in Sheffield, UK (population 554 600) and all patients diagnosed with CTEPH at a pulmonary hypertension (PH) referral centre in Sheffield (referral population estimated 15-20 million) were included. RESULTS: Of 1956 patients attending the Sheffield PE clinic 3 months following a diagnosis of acute PE, 41 were diagnosed with CTEPH with a cumulative incidence of 2.10%, with 1.89% diagnosed within 2 years. Of 809 patients presenting with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and diagnosed with CTEPH, 32 were Sheffield residents and 777 were non-Sheffield residents. Patients diagnosed with CTEPH at the PE follow-up clinic had shorter symptom duration (p<0.01), better exercise capacity (p<0.05) and less severe pulmonary haemodynamics (p<0.01) compared with patients referred with suspected PH. Patients with no major transient risk factors present at the time of acute PE had a significantly higher risk of CTEPH compared with patients with major transient risk factors (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.11-11.91; p=0.03). The presence of three computed tomography (CT) features of PH in combination with two or more out of four features of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease at the index PE was found in 19% of patients who developed CTEPH and in 0% of patients who did not. Diagnostic rates and pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) rates were higher at 13.2 and 3.6 per million per year, respectively, for Sheffield residents compared with 3.9-5.2 and 1.7-2.3 per million per year, respectively, for non-Sheffield residents. CONCLUSIONS: In the real-world setting a dedicated PE follow-up pathway identifies patients with less severe CTEPH and increases population-based CTEPH diagnostic and PEA rates. At the time of acute PE diagnosis the absence of major transient risk factors, CT features of PH and chronic thromboembolism are risk factors for a subsequent diagnosis of CTEPH.

Effectiveness and safety of direct oral anticoagulation vs. warfarin in frail patients with atrial fibrillation.

AIMS: Although frail patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) carry a high risk of stroke and treatment-related bleeding complications, evidence for the safety and effectiveness of anticoagulation remains sparse. This study investigated the effectiveness and safety of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) vs. warfarin in frail AF patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nationwide registry-based cohort study including 32 048 anticoagulation naïve frail patients (median age 80 years, 53% female) with incident AF during 2012-20. Frailty was assessed using the hospital frailty risk score. To address baseline confounding, we applied inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and marginal structural models with weighted pooled regression to compute weighted hazard ratios (wHRs) and risk differences for thromboembolism and major bleeding comparing specific DOAC doses with warfarin. After AF diagnosis, 6747 (21.1%) initiated warfarin, 17 076 (50.3%) initiated standard-dose DOAC, and 9179 (28.6%) initiated reduced-dose DOAC. Comparative effectiveness analyses in the IPTW pseudo-populations revealed similar thromboembolism risk between standard-dose DOAC and warfarin [wHR 0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80-1.13] and between reduced-dose DOAC and warfarin (wHR 0.97, 95% CI 0.77-1.23). The 1-year thromboembolic event-free survival difference was -0.2% for DOAC, regardless of dosing, vs. warfarin. Major bleeding risk was significantly lower with standard-dose DOAC (wHR 0.69, 95% CI 0.59-0.87) and reduced-dose DOAC (wHR 0.67, 95% CI 0.55-0.81) vs. warfarin. The 1-year bleeding risk difference with DOAC ranged from -1.3% to -3.0%. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate comparable thromboembolism risk and significantly lower bleeding risk with both standard and reduced DOAC regimens compared with warfarin in frail AF patients in routine care.

Arterial Thromboembolism in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and CHA2DS2-VASc Score 1: A Nationwide Study.

BACKGROUND: Oral anticoagulation is suggested in patients with atrial fibrillation and a CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥1 (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes, stroke, vascular disease, age 65-74 years, and sex score). To assess granular differences within CHA2DS2-VASc 1, the incidence of arterial thromboembolism according to CHA2DS2-VASc 1 subgroups was examined. METHODS: The Danish National Patient Registry and the Danish Prescription Registry were linked on a nationwide level to identify patients with atrial fibrillation from 2000 to 2021 without oral anticoagulation and categorized according to CHA2DS2-VASc score: CHA2DS2-VASc 0 (male and female subjects); CHA2DS2-VASc 1 (hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, vascular disease, and age 65-74 years); or CHA2DS2-VASc 2 (age ≥75 years without other risk factors). Female sex was not considered a risk factor in any risk group. The outcome was arterial thromboembolism (ischemic stroke, embolism of extremity, or transient cerebral ischemia). Study groups were compared using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: We included 26 701 patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc 0 score; 22 915 with CHA2DS2-VASc 1 (1483 patients with heart failure, 9066 with hypertension, 843 with diabetes, 770 with vascular disease, and 10 753 who were 65 to 74 years of age); and 14 525 patients with CHA2DS2-VASc 2 (≥75 years of age without other risk factors). With a median of 1 year of observation time, the cumulative incidence of arterial thromboembolism was 0.6% (n=154 [95% CI, 0.6%-0.8%]), 1.4% (n=16 [95% CI, 0.8%-2.2%]), 1.9% (n=141 [95% CI, 1.6%-2.2%]), 1.7% (n=12 [95% CI, 0.9%-2.9%]), 2.0% (n=13 [95% CI, 1.1%-3.4%]), 2.3% (n=187 [95% CI, 2.0%-2.7%]), and 4.4% (n=533 [95% CI, 4.1%-4.8%]) for CHA2DS2-VASc 0, heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, vascular disease, age 65 to 74 years (CHA2DS2-VASc 1), and age ≥75 years (CHA2DS2-VASc 2), respectively. No statistically significant difference was identified among subgroups of CHA2DS2-VASc 1 (P=0.15 for difference). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with atrial fibrillation, all subgroups of CHA2DS2-VASc 1 were associated with lower incidence of arterial thromboembolism compared with age ≥75 years without other risk factors (ie, CHA2DS2-VASc 2) and a higher incidence compared with CHA2DS2-VASc 0. No statistically significant difference was identified between the subgroups of CHA2DS2-VASc 1. These findings support current recommendations that patients within this intermediate risk group could be identified with a similar risk of arterial thromboembolism.

Thromboembolic complications after COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients.

AIM: Increased venous thrombosis and arterial embolism rates are observed in the general population during or after COVID-19. Data regarding the kidney transplant population are scarce. In this study, we aim to investigate the thrombotic complications and risk factors associated with thrombotic complications in kidney transplant patients. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included adult kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 2020 and June 2022. The endpoint was the occurrence of thromboembolic events. RESULTS: Four hundred and sixty-nine patients were followed for a median of 10.8 months after COVID-19. Forty patients (8.5%) died. Thromboembolic complications developed in 51 (11.9%) of the surviving patients. Twenty-four patients with thromboembolic events were receiving prophylactic anticoagulation before the event. The patients with mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19 were 292, 129, and 48, respectively. Patients with moderate COVID-19 had a significantly higher percentage of thromboembolic complications than patients with mild COVID-19. Older age, prior heart disease, and moderate COVID-19 were significantly associated with thromboembolic events. The incidence of thromboembolic events after COVID-19 is 10.9 per 100 patient-year. CONCLUSION: Thromboembolic complications were observed at increased rates in kidney transplant recipients after COVID-19. Therefore, prospective and cohort studies for post-COVID-19 complications regarding the treatment modalities are urgently needed.

Net clinical benefit of oral anticoagulants in Asian patients with atrial fibrillation based on a CHA2DS2-VASc score.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to assess the net clinical benefit (NCB) for oral anticoagulant (OAC) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients according to the CHA2DS2-VASc score. METHODS: Patients with AF were prospectively recruited in the COOL AF Thailand registry from 2014 to 2017. The incidence rate of thromboembolic (TE) events and major bleeding (MB) was calculated. Cox proportional hazards model was used to compare the TE and MB rate in patients with and without OACs in CHA2DS2-VASc score of 0-1 and ≥ 2, respectively. The survival analysis was performed based on CHA2DS2-VASc score. The NCB of OACs was defined as the TE rate prevented minus the MB rate increased multiplied by a weighting factor. RESULTS: A total of 3,402 AF patients were recruited. An average age of patients was 67.38 ± 11.27 years. Compared to non-anticoagulated patients, the Kaplan Meier curve showed anticoagulated patients with CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2 or more had the lower thromboembolic events with statistical significance (p = 0.043) and the higher MB events with statistical significance (p = 0.018). In overall AF patients, there were positive NCB in warfarin patients with CHA2DS2-VASc score of 3 or more while there were positive NCB in DOACs patients regardless of CHA2DS2-VASc score. Females with CHA2DS2-VASc score of 3 or more had a positive NCB regardless of OACs type. Good anticoagulation control (TTR ≥65%) improved an NCB in males with CHA2DS2-VASc score of 3 or more. CONCLUSIONS: AF patients with CHA2DS2-VASc score of 3 or more regardless warfarin or DOACs had a positive NCB. The NCB of OACs was more positive for DOACs compared to warfarin and for females compared to males.

Gaps in guideline-recommended anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation and elevated thromboembolic risk within an integrated healthcare delivery system.

BACKGROUND: Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the leading cause of stroke, which can be reduced by 70% with appropriate oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy. Nationally, appropriate anticoagulation rates for patients with AF with elevated thromboembolic risk are as low as 50% even across the highest stroke risk cohorts. This study aims to evaluate the variability of appropriate anticoagulation rates among patients by sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status within the Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States (KPMAS). METHODS: This retrospective study investigated 9513 patients in KPMAS's AF registry with CHADS2 score ≥ 2 over a 6-month period in 2021. RESULTS: Appropriately anticoagulated patients had higher rates of diabetes, prior stroke, and congestive heart failure than patients who were not appropriately anticoagulated. There were no significant differences in anticoagulation rates between males and females (71.8% vs. 71.6%%, [OR] 1.01; 95% CI, 0.93-1.11; P = .76) nor by SES-SVI quartiles. There was a statistically significant difference between Black and White patients (70.8% vs. 73.1%, P = .03) and Asian and White patients (68.3% vs. 71.6%, P = .005). After adjusting for CHADS2, this difference persisted for Black and White participants with CHADS2 scores of ≤3 (62.6% vs. 70.6%, P < .001) and for Asian and White participants with CHADS2 scores > 5 (68.0% vs. 79.3%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Black and Asian patients may have differing rates of appropriate anticoagulation when compared with White patients. Characterizing such disparities is the first step towards addressing treatment gaps in AF.

Risks and impacts of thromboembolism in patients with pancreatic cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with pancreatic cancer have a high risk of thromboembolism (TE), which may increase mortality. Most relevant studies have been conducted in Western populations. We investigated risk factors for TE in a predominantly Chinese population of patients with pancreatic cancer, along with effects of TE on overall survival. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with exocrine pancreatic cancer in Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong between 2010 and 2015. Data regarding patient demographics, World Health Organization performance status, stage, treatment, TE-related information, and time of death (if applicable) were retrieved from electronic medical records. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for TE. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: In total, 365 patients were included in the study. The overall incidence of TE (14.8%) was lower than in Western populations. In univariate logistic regression analysis, stage IV disease and non-head pancreatic cancer were significantly associated with TE (both P=0.01). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that stage IV disease was a significant risk factor (odds ratio=1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.00-1.17; P=0.046). Median overall survival did not significantly differ between patients with and without TE (4.88 months vs 7.80 months, hazard ratio=1.08, 95% CI=0.80-1.49; P=0.58) and between patients with TE who received anticoagulation treatment or not (5.63 months vs 4.77 months, hazard ratio=0.72, 95% CI=0.40-1.29; P=0.27). CONCLUSION: The incidence of TE was low in our Chinese cohort. Stage IV disease increased the risk of TE. Overall survival was not affected by TE or its treatment.

[Thromboembolism - A common cause of stroke]. / Thromboembolien ­ Eine häufige Ursache des Schlaganfalls.

In the field of neurology, thromboembolic events are responsible for approximately 40% of ischemic strokes 1. The embolisms are differentiated according to their origin: One group includes emboli that occur in the heart, e.g. due to atrial fibrillation (cardioembolic stroke). Another group includes emboli, which are caused by arteriosclerotic plaques, e.g. in the area of the carotid bifurcation in the large vessels supplying the brain. After the acute therapy of the ischemic stroke, further diagnostics are essential to determine the exact cause of the ischemic stroke. Targeted therapy to prevent further strokes can only be initiated if the cause is known (secondary prevention). In the following - in addition to the current diagnostics and therapy of thromboembolic strokes - new guideline recommendations and COVID-19 will be discussed.

[Thromboembolic diseases from a cardiological point of view]. / Thromboembolische Erkrankungen aus kardiologischer Sicht.

Thromboembolic disease is associated with a high mortality. It can be divided into two groups: embolism from a venous and embolism from an arterial side. This article gives an overview on thromboembolic disease (with a focus on pulmonary embolism and ischemic stroke) from a cardiologist's perspective.The therapeutic options for acute pulmonary embolism range from anticoagulation to fibrinolysis to interventional recanalization and surgery. The deciding factor for choice of therapy is the risk of early death. Besides clinical parameters, laboratory markers like cardiac troponin and right ventricular function on echocardiography or CTPA (computed tomography pulmonary angiography) are used to determine the early mortality risk. In hemodynamically instable patients, immediate thrombolysis is required, whereas patients with intermediate and low risk can be treated with anticoagulation. Interventional recanalization is currently being studied in patients at risk for development of CTEPH (chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension) or an intermediate risk of early mortality.In ischemic stroke, early interdisciplinary workup involving a cardiologist is paramount. Post stroke screening should include monitoring for arrythmias (especially atrial fibrillation) and transthoracic echocardiography as well as sonography of extra- and intracranial arteries. If no embolic source can be detected (embolic stroke of undetermined source), transesophageal echo can be helpful to detect intracardiac shunts like patent foramen ovale (PFO) or intracardiac tumors. Post stroke care includes secondary prevention measures like risk factor modification and lipid lowering therapy as well as anticoagulation. In high risk for paradoxical embolization, interventional PFO closure can be performed. Interventional closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) can be discussed in patients with both high thromboembolic and bleeding risk.

Institutional Experience With Venous Aneurysms - Insights On The Natural History And Outcomes Of Surgical Treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Venous aneurysms are rare, so their natural history is not fully understood. Indications for treatment are often determined by the location and size of the aneurysm; however, considering the scarcity of data, there are no specific recommendations. Surgery is the mainstay for venous aneurysm treatment, but some authors reported successful endovascular treatment. We intend to describe our experience with this type of rare disorder. METHODS: A post hoc observational study of a prospectively maintained registry including consecutive patients admitted with the diagnosis of a venous aneurysm at different locations between January 2007 and September 2021. Demographic data, anatomic location, and medical history, including trauma or venous surgery, were analyzed. All vascular reconstructions and outcomes have been evaluated. RESULTS: We identified 30 venous aneurysms in 24 patients. Fifteen patients were male (63%). The most common anatomical location was the popliteal vein (n=19; 63%). Four patients had multiple venous aneurysms, and three patients had synchronous arterial aneurysms. Twelve (63%) of the popliteal vein aneurysms identified were surgically treated, most commonly by tangential aneurysmectomy and lateral venorrhaphy. The average diameter at the time of surgery was 22,8±3,6 mm. After discharge, all patients were anticoagulated for 6 to 12 months, in most cases with rivaroxaban. With a median follow-up time of 32 months (12 - 168 months), primary patency was 92%. Aneurysm recurrence was only observed in one case (1/12; 8%) with non-occlusive thrombosis of the aneurysm 14 years after surgery. One patient had a 21 mm gemelar vein aneurysm, having been proposed for surgery, with thrombosis before the intervention. Two patients had common femoral vein aneurysms treated with partial aneurysmectomy and lateral venorrhaphy without thromboembolic events during follow-up. Two patients presented with portal system aneurysms, one associated with portal hypertension. No treatment was performed, and an increase in aneurysm size was observed during follow-up. Another patient presented with acute deep vein thrombosis on chronically thrombosed bilateral iliac vein aneurysms. Three patients had aneurysms of the superficial venous system associated with previous trauma, which were treated with simple ligation and excision. CONCLUSION: Venous aneurysms are rare and most commonly located in the popliteal vein, which seems to be associated with chronic venous disease. Treating these aneurysms, even without symptoms, can be important to avoid thromboembolic complications. However, close long-term follow-up with duplex ultrasound should be considered to detect late recurrence. Aneurysms from other locations are even rarer, and treatment decisions should be individualized, weighing the risks and benefits of the intervention.

Clinical consequences of off-label reduced dosing of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Postmarketing observational studies report that a substantial percentage of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) receive a reduced non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) dose without a clear indication. Recently, increasing evidence has become available to explore the clinical consequences of such off-label reduced dosing (OLRD). This study aims to systematically review and meta-analyse observational studies that report clinical outcomes associated with OLRD of NOACs compared with on-label non-reduced dosing (OLNRD) of NOACs in patients with AF. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of observational studies reporting clinical outcomes in AF patients with OLRD of an NOAC compared with AF patients with OLNRD of an NOAC. Using random effects meta-analyses, we estimated the risk of stroke/thromboembolism, bleeding and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: We included 19 studies with a total of 170 394 NOAC users. In these studies, the percentage of OLRD among patients with an indication for an on-label non-reduced NOAC dose ranged between 9% and 53%. 7 of these 19 studies met the predefined criteria for meta-analysis (n=80 725 patients). The pooled HR associated with OLRD of NOACs was 1.04 (95% CI 0.83 to 1.29; 95% prediction interval (PI) 0.60 to 1.79) for stroke/thromboembolism, 1.10 (95% CI 0.95 to 1.29; 95% PI 0.81 to 1.50) for bleeding and 1.22 (95% CI 0.81 to 1.84; 95% PI 0.55 to 2.70) for all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis shows no statistically significant increased risk of stroke/thromboembolism, nor a decreased bleeding risk, nor a difference in risk of all-cause mortality in patients with OLRD of NOACs. Future research may focus on differences between NOACs.

A potentially new thromboembolic event scoring system in polycythaemia vera patients: An audit of the Hungarian Philadelphia negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasia register.

OBJECTIVE: The Hungarian National Registry for Philadelphia chromosome negative myeloproliferative neoplasms was used to analyse the thromboembolic events (TE) of Hungarian patients with polycythemia vera (PV). METHODS: Data from 351 JAK2 V617F-positive patients diagnosed with PV were collected online from 15 haematology centres reporting clinical characteristics, therapeutic interventions and thromboembolic events. TE events were evaluated before and after diagnosis based upon the Landolfi and Tefferi risk assessment scales. RESULTS: TE were reported on 102 patients before diagnosis and 100 during the follow-up period. Comparing to the frequency of major arterial events before PV diagnosis, we can notice a decreasing tendency after diagnosis: from 12.3% to 2.6% (p < .00003). There was no significant change in the rate of major venous events (from 5.1% to 8.5%; p = .1134) or minor arterial events (from 11.7% to 17.4%; p = .073). Bleeding events were recorded in 5.7% of patients. Despite treatment with HU + ASA, 44 patients (43.1%) with prior TE had recurrent thromboembolic complications. The particular analysis of our data revealed a new TE scoring system based on: age, gender, previous TE and iron deficiency at the time of diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our registry enables characterisation of patients with PV. The high level of recurrent TE events highlights the need for more effective and risk-adapted therapy.

Predicting a decrease in left atrial appendage flow velocity using left atrial diameter and CHA2DS2-VASc score in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Left atrial (LA) appendage flow velocity (LAAFV) is a classic but invasive predictor of thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to explore the usefulness of LA diameter (LAD) combined with CHA2DS2-VASc score, which is easily available and non-invasive, as a novel score for predicting a decrease in LAAFV in non-valvular AF (NVAF). METHODS: In total, 716 consecutive NVAF patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography were divided into the decreased LAAFV (< 0.4 m/s) and preserved LAAFV (≥ 0.4 m/s) groups. RESULTS: The decreased LAAFV group had a larger LAD and a higher CHA2DS2-VASc score than the preserved LAAFV group (P < 0.001). Multivariate linear regression indicated that brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration, persistent AF, LAD, and CHA2DS2-VASc score were remained inversely associated with LAAFV. Moreover, multivariate logistic regression revealed that BNP concentration (odds ratio [OR] 1.003, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.001-1.005, P = 0.003), persistent AF (OR 0.159, 95% CI 0.102-0.247, P < 0.001), and LAD (OR 1.098, 95% CI 1.049-1.149, P < 0.001) were independent factors for a decrease in LAAFV. A novel score, LAD combined with CHA2DS2-VASc score, was more accurate for predicting a decrease in LAAFV among NVAF patients (area under the curve was 0.733). CONCLUSION: Enlarged LAD was independent risk factor for a decrease in LAAFV among NVAF patients. LAD combined with CHA2DS2-VASc score enhanced the predictive ability for a decrease in LAAFV among NVAF patients.

Thromboembolism and Major Bleeding in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and EHRA Type 2 Valvular Heart Disease: The Jordan Atrial Fibrillation (JoFib) Study.

Aim: The risks of thromboembolism and major bleeding in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients were assessed according to the "Evaluated Heartvalves, Rheumatic or Artificial" (EHRA) classification. Additionally, the safety and efficacy of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOACs) were compared in AF patients with EHRA type 2 valvular heart disease (VHD) versus those with no VHD. Methods: AF patients enrolled in the "Jordan Atrial Fibrillation (JoFib)" study were followed up for thromboembolic events and major bleeding at 30, 180, and 365 days. Patients in the EHRA type 2 VHD and non-VHD groups were sub-grouped to compare different OACs. Results: 2020 AF patients were recruited. The thromboembolic risk was higher in EHRA type 2 VHD patients compared to non-VHD controls. Major bleeding also occurred at higher rates in EHRA type 2 patients. In addition, NOACs were more effective in preventing thromboembolic events than VKAs and non-anticoagulation in EHRA type 2 VHD patients. Furthermore, EHRA type 2 VHD patients taking rivaroxaban had significantly less thromboembolic risk than their non-anticoagulated counterparts. At the same time, apixaban and warfarin did not significantly lower the risk of thromboembolism compared to non-anticoagulation. Conclusion: AF patients with EHRA type 2 VHD are at significant risk of thromboembolism and major bleeding. Furthermore, NOACs were more effective than VKAs in preventing thromboembolic events in this group of patients without conferring an added risk of major bleeding. Moreover, rivaroxaban appears to be particularly efficacious.